2017 Family Guide to the Woodward Dream Cruise

The Woodward Dream Cruise is upon us -- you have probably already seen people setting up lawn chairs along Woodward Ave to catch a glimpse of the occasional classic car driving down among the Focuses, Minis and Town & Countries. Whether the sight and sound of those cars gives you a thrill or a chill, we have your guide to The Woodward Dream Cruise right here!Guide last updated 8/8/17. Will be updated as more events are announced! Note that event times or locations may change without notice or due to weather conditions. 

Note that we are only including events we think are of interest to families. There are a ton of other things going on at local bars and with local radio stations, so feel free to check out all of the official events at WoodwardDreamCruise.com! 

Family Fun Events

• Throughout the weekend:
• Ferndale Dream Cruise Rock'n Live Entertainment. From the Ferndale Community Concert Band to Shout! a Beatles Tribute Band, Ferndale has a little throwback music for everyone. Full lineup for Thursday, Friday and Saturday here: http://www.ferndaledreamcruise.com/services.html
• Thursday, August 17:
• Ferndale Dream Cruise: PBS Channel 56 films its 2nd annual television special, Dream Cruise Road Show, showcasing classic vehicles and the people who own them. The show will be filmed LIVE on Nine Mile Road, west of Woodward, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Spectators are welcomed. On the east side of Woodward, enjoy another edition of Vester Street's Get Reel Outdoor Movie Night. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a memorable evening watching "Ghostbusters" under the stars, on Vester Street (between Woodward & Bermuda) beginning at dusk. 
• Friday, August 18:
• Berkley CruiseFest: Berkley kicks off the Woodward Dream Cruise with a Classic Car Parade at 6:30 the Friday before the Woodward Dream Cruise. Purchase a commemorative t-shirt (designed by Berkley High School student Khari Alghal!) at Coco Fairfield's, Salon Tru, Peninsulas, or Berkley's Edible Arrangements. The Classic Car Parade and other family fun activities will be offered on Twelve Mile Road between Coolidge and Greenfield. Be sure to visit the Kid’s Inflatable Zone at 12 Mile Road & Tyler!
• Ferndale Dream Cruise: 17th Annual Ferndale Emergency Vehicle Show (1:00 pm - 8pm) will showcase classic, restored, custom and current ambulance, fire and police vehicles, along with the unique and spectator favorite Lights & Sirens Cruise (5:30 pm) and the official Dream Cruise Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (5:00 pm). On the west side of Woodward, take a look at Mel's TV & Movie Car Collection! Come out and view the Batmobile, Monkeemobile, Munster Koach and more! Vehicles will be displayed on West Nine Mile Rd from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
• Performance Park Classic Car Show in Royal Oak: GM Performance, vendors and food court at Memorial Park (Woodward and Coolidge) from 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
• Saturday, August 19:
• Birmingham Cruise Event: It's the time of year when 40,000+ classic cars and more than one million people line Woodward Avenue to attend the world's largest one-day automotive event, the Woodward Dream Cruise. The Birmingham Cruise Event is located on South Old Woodward from Merrill to Lincoln. It features 300 classic cars of all makes and models, live entertainment, live broadcasts and more.
• 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM: Birmingham Cruise Classic Car Show
• 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: WXYZ-TV Live Broadcast.
• 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: 104.3 WOMC Live Broadcast at Old Woodward and Lincoln.
• 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM: 104.3 WOMC Live entertainment stage at Old Woodward and Lincoln.
• 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Live Entertainment with The Phoenix Theory (Classic Hits)
• More details: www.BirminghamCruiseEvent.com
• 13th Annual Bloomfield Township Classic Car Show: The 13th annual Bloomfield Township Classic Car Show returns to Mercedes-Benz of Bloomfield Hills at 36600 Woodward from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Held in conjunction with the Woodward Dream Cruise on Saturday, August 19, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, the family-friendly event features classic and specialty automobiles of all makes and models. In addition to show cars, the event will feature a viewing area for the Woodward Dream Cruise with entertainment, food, general parking and portable restrooms. Admission to view the vehicles is free.Proceeds from the event will once again support the Bloomfield Hills Optimist Club, Bloomfield Township Fire Department Charities and Bloomfield Township Police Department Benevolent Fund. More details: www.bloomfieldtwp.org/events
• Ferndale Dream Cruise: Mustang fans will be celebrating the iconic pony car at the 19th Mustang Alley in downtown Ferndale with more than 650 Mustangs – making it the largest car exhibit at the Woodward Dream Cruise. Mustang Alley is regularly one of the most crowded events at the Dream Cruise.
  On Nine Mile Road & Woodward, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. For more details: mustangalleyon9.com .
• Royal Oak Dream Cruise Events: 
• 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM: “Cruise In Shoes” 5k Run/Walk at Shrine High School Athletic Field. To register: https://hughesware.webserversystems.com/~hughesre/races/DREAMC/cruiseinshoes/signup.php
• 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM: Classic Car Show at Northwood Shopping Center.
• 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM: Performance Park Classic Car Show, GM Performance, vendors and food court at Memorial Park.
• 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM: Ford Family Zone & 104.3 WOMC at Pioneer Park on Woodward Ave north of Normandy at the corner of Woodward and Nakota.

Family Fun Alternative Ideas:

• Free Summer Movie: Rock Dog (Royal Oak. Only if you are already on the east side of Woodward!) 
• Insect Safari (Madison Heights)
• Take the family rock climbing at Planet Rock in Madison Heights
• Visit a local splash pad

Parks and Playgrounds Along the Route

Want to be near the action but still have some play fun? Check out these Woodward-adjacent options:

• Memorial Park in Royal Oak (13 and Woodward), which will also have a food court during the day on Saturday August 16.
• Poppleton Park (between Maple and Big Beaver off Woodward in Birmingham)
• Booth Park (off Old Woodward Ave in Birmingham)

Tips:

• If you go, keep an eye on the weather! A few storms have ripped through in the past. Be prepared!
• Make sure to stay hydrated if it ends up being a hot day. While there will be plenty of places purveying bottled water, save and be green by bringing your own water bottles along.
• Be safe! Traffic on Woodward gets a little weird during the day with a mix of slow, old cars and regular cars just looking to get to their destination. At night, some people like to try and race down the strip. Biking or walking are good options, but keep alert!
• Call ahead. Many businesses change their hours or close altogether during the Dream Cruise. 
• Enjoy! This has become one of the nation's largest events of its kind, and even the famous Mark Wahlberg has publicly stated his fondness for the Woodward Dream Cruise
• Make friends with people who live near the route and who host barbecues. ;) Sitting in the backyard with a soda or other beverage and a hot dog while the kids play is one of the best ways to enjoy this event!

If you find fun around town this weekend, let us know! Post a pic on our Facebook page, or tweet us with what you recommend families check out! 

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